Some Pancreatic Cancer Awareness stats:
This year, an estimated 57,600 adults (30,400 men and 27,200 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease causes approximately 3% of all cancers. It is estimated that 47,050 deaths (24,640 men and 22,410 women) from this disease will occur this year.
So how and when it all started or really when did I become aware something was wrong. The mean time from actual start of pancreatic cancer to awareness is 14 months. I became aware in August 2020 that something was not right. I was having a lot of stomach pain that antacids did not quell.
I contacted my GI doc and scheduled an EGD (Upper Endoscopy). That was done on Sept 8th 2020. It showed the usual stuff for a guy with GERD (gastro-reflux disease) for which I take pantoprazole 40 mg. Because there was a little bit of food in my stomach the PA (physician assistant) called it gastroparesis, abnormally slow movement of food through stomach. And put me on Zelnorm. So I was scheduled for a gastric clearing scan on Oct 12th, which was normal.
So next up in the medical sequence of events was an abdominal ultrasound which was performed on Oct 22nd. At that point I was expecting gallbladder issues. Previously, I had my primary doc order an amylase/lipase to check for pancreatitis which were normal. The ultrasound was pretty normal for an over weight 67 y/o. Some fat in the liver and some sludge in the gallbladder. A small inclusion on the liver was suspected to be a fat deposit, which 25% of patients have. Still no worries, but still have abdominal pain, which has migrated from the top of my stomach to both sides. The pancreas was not visible on the ultrasound, hidden behind a small bowel loop.
On November 12th a MRI of the abdomen was ordered with and without contrast. My healthcare provider Baycare of Tampa Bay permits patients to view their imaging results the next day. This is when I first learned there was big trouble. Ironically on Friday the 13th. The radiologist impression follows: "Evidence of a 3 cm mass within the head of the pancreas concerning for a primary pancreatic neoplasm. Multiple liver lesions which have features that are most consistent with metastatic disease." My life then instantly changed. I knew what that meant.
I am a 67 year old white male. Was trained in Clinical Lab Science in 1978-79 at Lakeland Regional Hospital in Lakeland, Florida. A 12 month program under the education of three on staff pathologists. This was backed up with a BA with a Chemistry Major first and then a BS in Medical Technology in 1979. I was trained in all divisions of the medical Laboratory and certified by the ASCP. I currently hold a Florida Supervisors license in all areas of the laboratory (in Florida).
Most of my clinical experience has been in hospital labs, large and small. But also spent time working for a reference lab as their week-end-holiday manager (everyone loves you, you are freeing them up to enjoy the holidays) . Which meant I worked and took care of all other aspects of an active reference lab.
I don't want to bore you with the lab stuff, but it's just a way to demonstrate some medical knowledge. And then for good measure in 1999 I acquired an MBA at my alma mater, USF, University of South Florida, in Tampa, Fl. Briefly did sales for Gartner, representing the IBM Hardware Division. Most recently and currently employed by an HCA subsidiary that does large scale Microbiology for 17 HCA Hospitals located around Tampa.
Living in Clearwater, FL and my Micro Lab is in Largo about 4 miles away. In my household resides my Fox Terrier/German Short Hair Pointer Sadie of 8 years. Although very important to me, she takes second place to my now 18 yr old son that stays with me at least 3 nights a week. He is a Senior at Clearwater HS. A good student and a wonderful human being, his name is Eric Hearn.
So there you have my background. My next post will be about when I first realized something was not right in August of 2020. Until then...
Hi and welcome to my blog. I have been recently diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer. There have been about 40,000 people that proceeded me this year and likely 65,000 current cases. I thought it might be helpful to the community to document my experience as a newly diagnosed man with terminal Stage IV pancreatic cancer. I promise I will keep it interesting and helpful.
